Page 7 (2/2)

"Hope to betrothe?" he repeated, wondering what it was about the woman that kept his brother, and, obviously, nu claih her hand Dirick was curious in spite of hily--still, few men would turn away the chance to hold as ardless of what the wo Although it wasn’t uncoht or nine to be betrothed and then hen she was fifteen or sixteen

"Maris is rather unusual," Merle said with an indulgent smile "She is seventeen summers, and to date I haven’t found a suitable man for her But ’tis nearly done--just the papers need to be signed upon Victor d’Arcy’s arrival"

"Unusual?" Was she ugly, or deformed in some way…or, perhaps, mad? No wonder Bernard had not "suited" with the woman His wife Joanna was lovely in both forer than a year

Merle dis instead, "You will join us at the high table for dinner this night?"

"Aye Yet, my lord, I must ask that outside of this chamber, I’m merely Dirick de Arlande--lately co, but I aht in search of work I have another mission for his majesty that involves the fief of Breakston Neither of us wish for Baron de Savrille to know ofis watching Bon de Savrille? I’ve long suspected he iances He was to provide men and to be at my side in Wales He showed himself for a mere three days, kept to himself, and eventually left his men to return to Breakston He left word that he had problems at home that called him back Methinks the man is merely a coward, yet, I wouldn’t be surprised were he to turn up as a supporter of the Welsh uprisings"

"With your permission, I won’t leave immediately for Breakston I intend to be sure he’s in residence before I ood to be nearby if you re else aboutas you like Shall I put some work your way to help your tale and keep your mind and body occupied?"

Dirick smiled "Aye, thank you,and be hter" Dirick i Bernard of his meal with the lady who had rejected his suit

That could beas well

Early thatwhen she heard that a man had arrived to see her father, Marisher betrothed, she grabbed two apples and a hunk of cheese and went out to the village There were several people she should visit, including Thoather the last of the bruisewort leaves froarden It was her intention to be scarce for the entire day

And so it was nearing dusk when she finally returned to the keep Managing to avoid her father, e stone steps that led to the wo Maris in the chamber, ready to help her dress for dinner

"’Tis late,his displeasure if youmeal," Verna commented as she helped Maris out of her work tunic

"Aye" Maris’s teeth chattered as she stood in the chill room clothed only in her shift "I couldn’t find a reason to old bliaut, Verna"

Her old colored undertunic froilt thread, arhtly up the sides, then turned back to the trunks

"The green tunic, old thread

"Aye" Maris would dress her finest for ato slather all over her hand and her lands Despite her curiosity, knowing that Verna would certainly have heard the gossip about the ned to ask anything about hih

Verna pulled the long, loose fitting tunic over Maris’s head There were no sides to the tunic, merely a hole for her head with a deep neckline to show off the golden bliaut underneath A gold girdle wrought in the shape of loose flowers and leaves cinched the tunic at her waist

Maris was strangely nervous at the thought of descending the stairs to dinner She knew that her father’s mind had been made up, and the ht abhor the idea of ood of Langumont that she er her father by rebuffing her intended betrothed

There was no time to redo her hair, so Verna left it in the heavy plait that hung down her back Flyaisps of rich, chestnut brown had sprung fro her face Verna tucked theold shot wimple that was draped over her reed headdress held the wimple in place, and Maris was dressed for dinner<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>